Those factors have created an avenue for the longshot catching prospect to make the Rockies’ opening-day roster.

“He’s worked himself into the position of consideration, that’s for sure,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We will find out because he’s going to play enough. We will get a feel for his maturity, the health of our players and how the club can come together for the best 25. We have a really, really gifted hitter here.”

For Pacheco to make the team, the Rockies would have to carry three catchers. He would join starter Chris Iannetta and a backup, a spot that Jose Morales is the leading candidate to land. That would allow Pacheco to dabble in other positions if necessary — he’s a middle infielder by trade — and pinch hit without being stuck as the last man on the bench.

Pacheco’s offensive showing this spring — 6-for-15 with a team-high seven RBIs — and Stewart’s fluke injury opened the door. Hitting instructor Carney Lansford, who said Pacheco “came out of the womb hitting,” believes the catcher could hold his own offensively in the big leagues right now.

What does the humble Pacheco think?

“Everybody in this room has confidence in themselves. It’s still about putting together at-bats, having a plan every at-bat and getting to know yourself,” Pacheco said. “I still have a long way to go with that.”

Thursday marked the 12th consecutive day Stewart hasn’t played since the third baseman hurt his knee in a collision with outfielder Carlos Gonzalez in the Rockies’ Cactus League opener. Stewart remains hopeful he will play soon, but the Rockies aren’t going to rush him just so he can make the opening-day roster. Ty Wigginton would start at third if Stewart isn’t ready.

Pacheco, who was the Mountain West Conference player of the year in 2007 for the University of New Mexico, would be making the jump from Double-A. To pull it off, he would have to be able to not only catch but play other positions, such as third, as well as pinch hit.

“That’s the Rubik’s cube. We think he can do it. But we don’t want to detract from his learning at catcher,” O’Dowd said. “There’s some versatility there we have to explore.”

Pacheco is an atypical prospect because of his age — he’s 25 — and his position switch since turning professional. But his offensive approach and his instincts behind the plate continue to grow on the Rockies.

“He has a very slow heartbeat,” O’Dowd said. “We will see if it stays that way.”

Troy is a former Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies beat writer for The Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role ahead of the 2015 season. He left The Post in 2015.

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